Fifth Test: Root, Ali boost England (Tea Report)

Chennai, Dec 16 (IANS) England rode on a partnership by Joe Root and Moeen Ali to post 182/3 in their first innings at tea on the opening day of the fifth and final cricket Test here on Friday.

Ali and Jonny Bairstow were in the middle for England at the break.

England were in trouble early on as openers Alistair Cook and Keaton Jennings were dismissed cheaply.

With the visitors struggling at 21/2, Root and Ali came together to add 146 runs between them to take them out of trouble.

Brief scores:

England (First Innings): 182/3 (Joe Root 88, Moeen Ali 63 batting; Ravindra Jadeja 2/54) vs India.

--IANS

ajb/dg